Nations squabble over UN vote on gay and trans killings

The UN is set to vote whether gay and trans people should be particularly protected from being murdered around the world.

Nations have to decide on Tuesday, Nov. 20, on whether to again condemn state killings which don’t involve the courts, known as extrajudicial executions, and other arbitrary murders.

The United Nations vote also tells countries they have a duty to prevent all kinds of killings if they can and to fully investigate murders which do take place, punishing those responsible. There’s a particular emphasis on honor killings, ‘social cleansing’ and similar deaths.

The vote is regularly renewed and is one of the only UN resolutions which specifically refers to sexual orientation and, therefore, protects lesbian, gay and bisexual people.